When details about the initial transaction came to light last spring, it prompted hearings from different legislative committees, led to an executive order from Gov. Paul LePage setting up policies to stop such deals in the future, and generated widespread media attention.

The land involves three separate pieces of land at 22, 26 and 30 Ship Circle in Thomaston near the prison. When Barnhart was hired as warden in 2009, she was offered the chance to live in a home on one of those properties. Traditionally, that home has been provided to wardens as part of their compensation package but Barnhart knew the property was up for sale and that she probably would not live there permanently. The state put the land up for sale in an effort to raise funds to help balance the budget.

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Barnhart negotiated with a real estate firm representing the state and bought the property for $175,000 — well below the $458,000 assessed by the town — with plans to turn it into a seven-lot subdivision.